Kenny Dorham's "Night Watch" receives a reverent treatment on Roy Hargrove's 1990 debut album Public Eye, the inclusion of this relatively obscure composition reflecting the young trumpeter's deep engagement with the hard bop tradition. The ABB-form tune in F minor moves at a medium tempo, its moody harmonic language creating an atmosphere of nocturnal introspection. In an unusual arrangement, Christian McBride opens the solo section with two choruses of acoustic bass, his deep-toned improvisation establishing a contemplative mood before the horns enter. Hargrove follows with two choruses of trumpet, his playing on this Dorham composition suggesting a conscious connection to the earlier trumpeter's lyrical style and harmonic adventurousness. Antonio Hart contributes two choruses of alto saxophone, his solo navigating the tune's distinctive harmony with assurance. Stephen Scott rounds out the solo section with one chorus of piano, his voicings enriching the dark harmonic palette. The choice to record a Dorham tune was significant, as Dorham remains one of the more underappreciated trumpeters in jazz history despite his exceptional body of work. Hargrove's decision to spotlight this composition demonstrated a depth of knowledge about the trumpet lineage that went beyond the more obvious influences of Miles Davis and Clifford Brown, revealing a young musician who had done his homework.
